The Meals on Wheels program depends on its volunteers to deliver approximately 500 meals a month to area seniors and others who are housebound. They are so dedicated to this vital service that no degree of inclement weather will stop them from making their appointed rounds every day.
On Monday, the St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club paid tribute to several long-time workers —including two 35-year vets — during a volunteer appreciation ceremony. According to club executive director Leslie MacEachern, Alma Bricker and Alfreda Melik don’t have any plans to quit just yet.
“It’s just amazing the impact they’ve had over so many years,” MacEachern said. “I think that it’s also so important that they’ve also brought other volunteers into the program. Honestly, this is like a guardian angel program. I don’t know where we’d be without volunteers like these two and the rest of the Meals on Wheels volunteers.”
The club has been the home of St. Albert’s Meals on Wheels since 2008. It provides fresh and frozen meals and fresh salads, to several dozen clients in the city.
Meals on Wheels is more than just a delivery service. MacEachern explained it also functions like a watchdog for those who need it the most.
“Probably more importantly [than the food delivery] is the contact that these isolated seniors get to have with different people throughout the year. That’s the part that I think is the most important to the clients.”
This function means volunteers watch out for signs of clients in trouble. She added that it could mean an emergency situation or simply one of improving quality of life. Many referrals to the club’s Outreach Program come from the Meals On Wheels volunteers.
Right now there are around 100 volunteers helping the program but MacEachern says there’s a need that could be filled by others.
“We could use a few more. There are times of the year, especially in the winter, when it’s harder to get volunteers. A lot of our volunteers are seniors themselves.”
If you are interested in either volunteering for the program or becoming a client, call Brian Timmins, the Meals on Wheels co-ordinator, at 780-459-0433. There is a fee for the service but it’s based on individual need and subsidies are also available.
The Seniors’ Club is located at 7 TachĂ© Street.
